The supercyclone Amphan has ravaged the Bay of Bengal region with an unprecedented level of destruction. Most of the deltas of Sunderbans due to the weakened Mangrove forest couldn't hold back the surging storm waters.

Amphan cyclone has made landfall on May 20th completely decimating enormous areas across coastal West Bengal and Orissa. Millions of people who have already been affected badly by #COVID19 pandemic and lockdown have now lost their homes too.

Our partners on the ground are working with the local administration to help people shelter in schools and flood centers.Cyclone Amphan’s landfall coincided with high tide resulting in breaching of embankments and widespread flooding. The local people, many of whom are subsistence farmers and fisherfolk, are also facing tremendous damage to what’s left of agriculture and their livelihoods. We are currently working on mitigating the immediate food and water shortage in the area.AID started working intensively with farmers in the region in 2009 after Cyclone Aila devastated Sunderbans exactly 11 years ago. What started as a small group of 20 farmers choosing to rebuild organic and sustainable farming by reviving farmlands from salinity, has grown to a movement of 25000 farmers in the past decade, with outlets established to directly sell produce to consumers in Kolkata.But, history repeats with itself with the severe cyclone Amphan breaching embankments and inundating farmlands with saline water from the sea. We expect similar to more deeper engagement in many fronts as post-Aila with these resilient communities to help rebuild literally from the ground up.

We need your generous support now to stand by the people of Sunderbans & adjacent regions, while they are facing this enormous devastation amidst a pandemic and to help sustain the relief & rebuilding efforts.

Updates from SRUJAN to the support given to 1000 families with the collaboration of Yavatmal Forest Department

SRUJAN distributed 400 food kits to such workers from Parwa, Maregaon, Pandharkawada and Mukutban range offices who have been affected due to the COVID-19 lockdown. This was done with support of AIDIndia in coordination with Pandharkawada Forest division under the supervision of DFO Ms. Abharna (IFS) with guidance of Mr. Ravi Wankhede (IFS), Chief Conservator of Forest, Yavatmal.

From this Saturday morning May 02 "Music For Love Concert" by Shravan Desikan. Shravan, an 11th grader from New York has been helping AID India’s Eureka program for the last 3-4 years. This is his 3rd concert in support of AID India’s work

Our partner SRUJAN has distributed a ration kit to 40 Tribal Guards. With your support, we want to support 1000 more.

With your support, we want to support 1000 more forest guards.

SRUJAN works with women widow farmers, tribal communities, and mental health patients. In these exceptional circumstances, SRUJAN had provided relief for 800 families in the Yavatmal District of Maharashtra. AID contributed initial for 30 families as part of 500 family support to MAKAAM in 14 districts of Maharashtra. Yavatmal consist of 5 tribal communities. AID has received a request for supporting additional 1000 tribal families working as daily wage Van Majdur (Forest Laborers). These laborers are also the first responders during forest fires and defenders against wildlife Poaching and deforestation. Today on Earth Day let us rescue our Forest Guards. Support of $1000 can feed 70 families. Please contribute now.

Yavatmal district is amongst the first 100 poorest districts of India, with no rail connectivity and very little industrial activity to generate wealth in the region. Basic infrastructure like education, electricity, housing, roads, health care, and banking are in rudimentary form. All these factors have a cumulative effect on access to basic amenities necessary for living. It is amongst the most backward districts of India. Map of Yavatmal attached.

The region is mostly forested and interspaced with agricultural lands with gradually undulating countryside. Five blocks of Yavatmal district are predominantly inhabited by tribes and are classified as Schedule V area under the constitution of India. This region is home to forest-dependent communities the most vulnerable being Kolams, Gond, Andh, Pardhi, and Pardhan.